Affiliation:
1. Department of Laboratory Science, School of Paramedical and Rehabilitation Sciences Mashhad University of Medical Sciences Mashhad Iran
2. Blood Transfusion Research Center High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine Tehran Iran
3. Departemant of Biochemistry and Hematology Faculty of Medicine Semnan University of Medical Science Semnan Iran
4. Student Research Committee Ilam University of Medical Sciences Ilam Iran
Abstract
AbstractBackgroundOccult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is a transfusion‐transmitted infection. Although, screening the hepatitis B virus among blood donors can play an important role in increasing the health of blood products, OBI screening in blood transfusion centers is still a challenge. This review study aimed to appraise the challenges of OBI screening and its associated do's and don'ts in blood transfusion centers.MethodsIn this review study, a search was conducted on the electronic databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Ovid, Irandoc, and Magiran from January 1996 to December 2020. Also, cross‐sectional studies that determined the prevalence of OBI or anti‐HBc were included in the study. In addition, studies with incomplete data on the prevalence of OBI were excluded.ResultsThe prevalence of OBI varies among Iranian blood donors. The rates reported by blood transfusion centers of Mashhad, Ahvaz, and Tehran were 0%, and Isfahan, Shiraz, and Kerman were 0.9%, 0.08%, and 2.36%, respectively. In areas with high prevalence of hepatitis B virus, OBI screening only by anti‐HBc test led to the exemption of blood donors from donating blood. Avoiding OBI screening also effected the risk of virus transmission to blood recipients. Plasma products had a higher risk (85%) of virus transmission.ConclusionsDetermining an appropriate screening strategy based on prevalence status, the cost‐effectiveness of screening tests, and the policies of each blood transfusion center is essential.